I have been living in Phuket for over four years and have tried every mode of transport: from a 30-baht songthaew to renting a car. Public transport here comes in five main flavours: songthaews (blue open-air buses, 30–50 baht), Smart Bus (air-conditioned coaches from the airport to Rawai, 100 baht), pink city buses around Phuket Town (5 baht), tuk-tuks, and motorbike taxis. On top of that, the Bolt and Grab apps serve as the local equivalent of Uber. All songthaew routes start from the Ranong Road Market in Phuket Town and fan out to the beaches. They run from 06:00 to 17:00–18:00, with 20–40 minute intervals.
What types of transport are there in Phuket?
| Transport | Fare | Operating hours | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Songthaew (blue) | 30–50 ฿ | 06:00–18:00 | Phuket Town — beaches |
| Smart Bus | 100 ฿ | 05:30–23:30 | Airport — Rawai (all beaches) |
| Pink buses | 5 ฿ | 06:30–20:00 | Within Phuket Town |
| Tuk-tuk | 200–600 ฿ | 24/7 | Negotiated route |
| Motorbike taxi | 50–200 ฿ | 24/7 | Short distances |
| Bolt / Grab (taxi) | from 150 ฿ | 24/7 | Any route |
Songthaew — blue buses to the beaches
A songthaew is a converted pickup truck with a canopy and two benches in the back. Every route begins at the Ranong Road Market in central Phuket Town. To board, simply wave at the driver. To get off, press the ceiling buzzer or tap a coin on the railing. Payment is cash only when you exit — have small bills ready, as drivers do not always give change.
Songthaew routes in detail
Phuket Town — Patong (50 baht). The most popular route. The songthaew leaves Ranong Road Market, travels through Kathu along the hilly Phra Barami Road, and terminates at the Sea Pearl Hotel in Patong. Travel time is 40–50 minutes. The last departure from Phuket Town is around 17:00, and the last return from Patong is also around 17:00. Frequency is every 30–40 minutes, though it can be more frequent during peak hours.
Phuket Town — Karon — Kata (50 baht). The second most popular route. It goes through Chalong, climbs the hill, descends into Karon, and continues to Kata. The terminus is near Kata Beach Hotel. Travel time to Karon is about 45 minutes, to Kata 55–60 minutes. Last departure from Phuket Town around 16:30, return from Kata until roughly 18:00.
Phuket Town — Kamala — Surin — Bang Tao (40 baht). This route goes through Kathu northward along the coast. It passes Kamala, Surin, and ends at Laguna Phuket in the Bang Tao area. Travel time to Kamala is 40 minutes, to Laguna about one hour. Last departure around 17:00.
Phuket Town — Nai Harn — Rawai (40 baht). Heads south along Chao Fa East Road, through Chalong to Nai Harn and Rawai. This route finishes earlier than the others — the last songthaew from Nai Harn leaves around 16:00. If you stay late at the beach, you will need to call a Bolt.
Phuket Town — Chalong Pier (30 baht). A short route to Chalong Pier, from which boats depart for Koh Lon and ferries head to the surrounding islands. Travel time is 25–30 minutes.
Phuket Town — Panwa / Aquarium (30 baht). Goes to the Cape Panwa area and the Phuket Aquarium. This route is less popular, with intervals of up to one hour.
Phuket Town — Sarasin Bridge (50 baht). Heads north along Thepkasattri Road through Thalang to the bridge connecting Phuket to the mainland. Useful if you need to reach the northern beaches or the airport (though the Smart Bus is more convenient for the airport).
Phuket Town — Bang Rong Pier (40 baht). Goes to the pier from which ferries depart for Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai. Last departure around 16:00.
Route summary table
| Route | Destination | Fare | Last departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phuket Town — Patong | Via Kathu, to Sea Pearl Hotel | 50 ฿ | ~17:00 |
| Phuket Town — Karon — Kata | Via Chalong, to Kata Beach Hotel | 50 ฿ | ~16:30 (return ~18:00) |
| Phuket Town — Kamala — Surin — Bang Tao | Via Kathu, to Laguna | 40 ฿ | ~17:00 |
| Phuket Town — Nai Harn — Rawai | Via Chao Fa East Road | 40 ฿ | ~16:00 |
| Phuket Town — Chalong Pier | To the pier | 30 ฿ | ~17:00 |
| Phuket Town — Panwa (Aquarium) | Cape Panwa area | 30 ฿ | ~17:00 |
| Phuket Town — Sarasin Bridge | North via Thepkasattri Rd | 50 ฿ | ~17:00 |
| Phuket Town — Bang Rong Pier | Ferry to Koh Yao | 40 ฿ | ~16:00 |
Prices current as of May 2026. Schedules are approximate — buses depart when full.
Route map
All songthaews start from the Ranong Road Market in central Phuket Town and fan out along the coast. The Smart Bus runs along the west coast from the airport to Rawai.
Smart Bus — from the airport to Rawai
The Phuket Smart Bus is an air-conditioned coach that runs from the airport along the entire west coast to Rawai. The fare is a flat 100 baht regardless of distance. Payment options: cash, PromptPay QR code, contactless Visa/Mastercard (since January 2026), or a Phuket Rabbit Card. This is the best way to get from Phuket Airport without overpaying for a taxi.
Smart Bus stops (full list)
The route has 18 stops. Major stops are highlighted in bold:
Airport — Thalang (Big C Thalang) — Cherng Talay (Boat Avenue) — Laguna (Laguna Entrance) — Lotus Cherng Talay — Surin (Surin Beach) — Kamala (Kamala Beach) — Fantasea — Big C Kamala — Kalim (Kalim Beach) — Patong (Holiday Inn / Jungceylon) — Secret Cliff — Karon (Karon Circle) — Karon Stadium — Kata (OZO Hotel, Palm Resortel, Beyond Resort) — Sai Yuan — Rawai (Rawai Beach)
Smart Bus schedule
| Direction | First departure | Last departure | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport — Rawai | 08:15 | 23:30 | ~1 hour |
| Rawai — Airport | 06:45 | 19:30* | ~1 hour |
* The 20:00 departure from Rawai terminates in Patong. An early 05:30 service starts from Kata. Travel time airport–Rawai: ~2 hours. Tracking: phuketsmartbus.com
Pink buses — around Phuket Town
Three air-conditioned bus routes operate within Phuket Town. The fare is 5 baht. They run from 06:30 to 20:00, every 20–30 minutes. Handy if you are staying in town and need to reach shops, markets, or the bus terminal. The routes cover key areas: Central Festival, the bus station, Old Town, Robinson, and Big C.
Tuk-tuks in Phuket
Tuk-tuks are red or blue minivans with open backs that wait on tourist streets in Patong, Kata, and Karon. Unlike songthaews, they have no fixed routes or schedules. You negotiate a price and destination with the driver.
To be honest, tuk-tuks are the most expensive mode of transport in Phuket. Drivers quote inflated prices, especially to tourists. Typical rates:
| Route | Tuk-tuk | For comparison: Bolt |
|---|---|---|
| Patong — Karon | 400–500 ฿ | 200–250 ฿ |
| Patong — Kata | 500–600 ฿ | 250–300 ฿ |
| Karon — Kata | 300–400 ฿ | 100–150 ฿ |
| Patong — Phuket Town | 500–600 ฿ | 300–400 ฿ |
| Within Patong (short trips) | 200–300 ฿ | 100–150 ฿ |
My advice — avoid tuk-tuks. Bolt or Grab is almost always 1.5 to 2 times cheaper. The only upside of a tuk-tuk is that you do not have to wait — one is already there.
Motorbike taxis
Phuket has motorbike taxis — drivers in orange vests who stand at intersections and soi (alley) entrances. This is the fastest way to cover a short distance: through traffic, to the nearest shop, or from the main road to your hotel.
Motorbike taxi prices:
- Short ride (1–3 km) — 50–80 ฿
- Medium (3–7 km) — 100–150 ฿
- Long (across the whole area) — 150–200 ฿
Important: negotiate before getting on, and always ask for a helmet (the driver is legally required to provide one). Motorbike taxis are not suitable for trips with heavy luggage and are not recommended in rain or at night on mountain roads.
Bolt and Grab — ride-hailing apps
Bolt and Grab are Uber-like ride-hailing apps that work in Phuket. Over four years I have used both and can say that Bolt is usually 10–20% cheaper and has more drivers. Grab is more convenient for card payments and occasionally offers promo codes.
How to use them
- Download the Bolt or Grab app from the App Store / Google Play
- Register with a phone number (Thai or international numbers work)
- Enter your destination — the app shows the fare upfront
- Payment: cash to the driver or card in the app
- Average wait time: 3–10 minutes in tourist areas, up to 15–20 minutes in remote locations
Approximate Bolt fares by route
| Route | Bolt (off-peak) | Bolt (peak hours) |
|---|---|---|
| Airport — Patong | 600–800 ฿ | 800–1,000 ฿ |
| Airport — Karon/Kata | 700–900 ฿ | 900–1,200 ฿ |
| Airport — Phuket Town | 400–550 ฿ | 550–700 ฿ |
| Patong — Phuket Town | 300–400 ฿ | 400–500 ฿ |
| Patong — Karon | 200–250 ฿ | 250–350 ฿ |
| Karon — Kata | 100–150 ฿ | 150–200 ฿ |
| Phuket Town — Chalong | 150–200 ฿ | 200–300 ฿ |
| Patong — Kamala | 250–350 ฿ | 350–450 ฿ |
Prices are approximate and depend on time of day and demand. Late night (after 23:00) rates are 20–30% higher.
Renting vs public transport — which is cheaper?
Many people ask: is it worth renting a scooter or car, or can you get by on public transport? Here is a one-week comparison for someone who goes to the beach every day and makes a couple of extra trips (shop, restaurant, excursion).
| Expense | Public transport | Scooter rental | Car rental |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rental (7 days) | 0 ฿ | 1,050–1,750 ฿ | 7,000–10,500 ฿ |
| Fuel (7 days) | 0 ฿ | 200–350 ฿ | 700–1,200 ฿ |
| Beach trips (7 times) | 700 ฿ (songthaew return) | 0 ฿ (own scooter) | 0 ฿ (own car) |
| Errands (3 times) | 600–900 ฿ (Bolt) | 0 ฿ | 0 ฿ |
| Evening trips (3 times) | 600–900 ฿ (Bolt, no songthaew) | 0 ฿ | 0 ฿ |
| Total per week | 1,900–2,500 ฿ | 1,250–2,100 ฿ | 7,700–11,700 ฿ |
The takeaway is simple: if you are in Phuket for more than 3–4 days, renting a scooter is cheaper than relying on public transport. A scooter gives you freedom — no schedules, go anywhere, any time. But you do need an international driving licence (category A) — without one, the fine is 500 baht at a police checkpoint. Car rental only makes sense for families with children or if you are uncomfortable riding a scooter on Thai roads.
Songthaew vs Smart Bus vs taxi — which is best?
| Songthaew | Smart Bus | Bolt (taxi) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fare to Patong | 50 ฿ | 100 ฿ | 300–500 ฿ |
| Air conditioning | No | Yes | Yes |
| Schedule | None, departs when full | Every hour | Any time |
| Evenings / nights | No (until 17–18:00) | Until 23:30 | 24/7 |
| Stops | Anywhere | Fixed stops | Door to door |
| Best for | Budget, daytime | Airport, evenings | Comfort, late night |
Practical tips
- Songthaews run irregularly — every 20–40 minutes, and even less frequently towards the evening. Do not plan important appointments around them
- Return trips from the beaches end early — the last songthaews from Nai Harn leave at 16:00, from Kata at 18:00
- Smart Bus is more reliable — fixed schedule, real-time tracking on phuketsmartbus.com or Google Maps
- If there are more than 2 of you — Bolt can be cheaper than Smart Bus (100 ฿ x 2 = 200 ฿ vs Bolt ~300 ฿)
- No direct songthaew between beaches — from Patong to Karon you need to transfer via Phuket Town, or take a Bolt for 200–250 ฿
- Tuk-tuks are a last resort — twice as expensive as Bolt; bargain hard or call a taxi via the app
- Motorbike taxis for short hops — great for a quick 1–2 km ride from the main road to the beach, but not for long distances
- For longer stays — rent a scooter from 150 ฿/day; it is both more convenient and cheaper than any public transport
- Bolt at night — after 23:00 fewer drivers are available and prices rise. If you have an early morning flight, book a Bolt in advance or arrange an airport transfer
Related articles
- How to Get from Phuket Airport
- Scooter and Car Rental in Phuket
- International Driving Licence in Thailand
- Best Beaches in Phuket — Top 12
- 5 Tourist Mistakes in Phuket
- Thailand Visa 2026
Questions about transport? Ask in the @mitya_phuket_chat group — we will help you figure out how to get there.